Injured seafarers evacuated from ship offshore Richards Bay

Two injured seafarers were recently evacuated from a container ship offshore of Richards Bay.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Richards Bay duty crew were activated on notification from NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, following a request from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

The 43-year-old male and a 22-year-old male, both from India, were unconscious and both in serious condition from injuries they had sustained in an incident on-board.

“In calm sea conditions with no wind and a sea swell of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, we rendezvoused with the motor vessel 6 nautical miles east of the Port of Richards Bay South Pier.

“The NSRI rescue paramedic and NSRI Medical Extrication crew were transferred onto the motor vessel where the ship’s medical crew were taking care of two patients,” said NSRI Richards Bay deputy station commander Manie le Roux.

The injured seafarers were transferred, one at a time, 25 meters from the ship’s freeboard onto the deck of the NSRI rescue craft.

“In the care of the NSRI medics, the patients, both in serious but stable condition, were brought to our NSRI rescue base and transported to hospital by Faith Med ambulance, where they are receiving care from doctors and nurses. They are expected to fully recover,” said Le Roux.

Le Roux commended the swift NSRI response and the ship’s crew and medics.

The Richards Bay Mission to Seafarers’ Chaplain Mark Classen visited the injured seafarers in the hospital. The 43 year old has since been discharged, while the 22 year old remains in the intensive care unit.

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